Lithgow man jailed after arrest with knives

A Lithgow man who sent chilling text messages to his son warning there was going to be “a blood bath” has been jailed for arming himself with four knives on a visit to his ex-partner.

The 43-year-old man was convicted of being armed with intent to commit an indictable offence in Lithgow Local Court last week.

He was sentenced to 18 months in jail, with a non-parole period of nine months.

The couple were separated and have children together. After a series of arguments over the telephone on October 7 and 8, 2017, the man began exchanging text messages with his son, urging him to make sure the children living at his ex-partner's house would be at a neighbour’s for the afternoon.

According to police documents presented to the court, at 2.38pm on October 8, the man sent a final text to his son warning “it’s going to be a blood bath”.

When the man’s son went to his father’s home he saw his father packing knives into a bag. He warned his father he would call the police, which he did when the man left the home with the bag and got into a taxi.

The taxi arrived at the man’s ex-partner’s home and police were there. A search of the black bag uncovered a 30cm bayonet knife and three kitchen knives, which he claimed he was returning to his ex-partner. She denied ownership of the knives and he was arrested.

Assault

A Penrith man who attempted to force his ex-partner into a car only metres from the Lithgow Police Station has been jailed for six months.

The 21-year-old man pleaded guilty to common assault, domestic violence related, and contravening the terms of a apprehended violence order and was convicted in Lithgow Local Court.

A witness tried to intervene when the man grabbed the woman and attempted to drag her into the car on Mort Street, after she repeatedly refused to get in the vehicle.

Police, crossing from the opposite side of the street, ordered the man to stop, but he got back in the car and locked the doors to prevent their entry before driving away.

He was later arrested at Penrith Police Station.

If you need support, contact the National Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence Counselling Service on 1800 737 732 or visit the website.